316LVM (low carbon vacumm melt) stainless steel, regarded as a medical grade, this stainless steel is vacuum melted to achieve high levels of purity and cleanliness. It has excellent resistance to both general and intergranular corrosion, and pitting and crevice corrosion. The vacuum melt allows for superior surface finish.
316LVM Stainless Steel is our most commonly sold medical stainless steel. Breaking down the name, this is a low-carbon version of 316 that has been vacuum arc remelted to reduce impurities.
Beyond removing impurities, this process, in combination with the unique nickel and chromium content of 316, tends to facilitate the formation of the surface chromium oxide layer that makes stainless steel corrosion resistant. There is some belief that T-316 LVM forms a more substantial surface layer, and that this plays a strong role in protecting the host body from reactions to the nickel content of the material.
Typical Applications
Orthopedic implants
Trauma nails
Neurological applications
Surgical instruments
Chromatography columns
Industries predominantly using this Grade
High performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Medical
Mechanical Properties
| Temper | Annealed | cold worked | ||
| Tensile Rm | 75 | ksi (min) | 125 | ksi (min) |
Tensile Rm | 515 | MPa (min) | 860 | MPa (min) |
R.p. 0.2% Yield | 30 | ksi (min) | 100 | ksi (min) |
R.p. 0.2% Yield | 205 | MPa (min) | 690 | MPa (min) |
Elongation (2" or 4D gl) | 35 | % (min) | 15 | % (min) |
Physical Properties (Room Temperature)
Specific Heat (0-100°C) | 485 | J.kg-1.°K-1 |
Thermal Conductivity | 16.3 | W.m -1.°K-1 |
Thermal Expansion | 16.5 | μm/μm/°C |
Modulus Elasticity | 200 | GPa |
Electrical Resistivity | 7.4 | μohm/cm |
Density | 7.99 | g/cm3 |
Chemical Composition (% by weight)
| Element | Min | Max |
C | - | 0.03 |
Mn | - | 2 |
Ni | 13 | 15 |
Cr | 17 | 19 |
Mo | 2 | 3 |
S | - | 0.1 |
Si | - | 0.75 |
P | - | 0.25 |
